Michael Kayode

Last updated

Michael Kayode
Brentford v AFC Bournemouth 27122025 (Kayode).jpg
Kayode playing for Brentford in 2025
Personal information
Full name Michael Olabode Kayode [1]
Date of birth (2004-07-10) 10 July 2004 (age 21)
Place of birth Borgomanero, Italy
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position Right-back
Team information
Current team
 Brentford
Number 33
Youth career
2014−2018 Juventus
2018−2020 Gozzano
2021−2023 Fiorentina
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2020−2021 Gozzano 34 (2)
2023−2025 Fiorentina 31 (1)
2025 → Brentford (loan) 12 (0)
2025– Brentford 26 (0)
International career‡
2021−2022 Italy U18 4 (0)
2022−2023 Italy U19 12 (1)
2023− Italy U21 8 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:34, 12 February 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 22 June 2025

Michael Olabode Kayode (born 10 July 2004) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Premier League club Brentford.

Contents

Early life

Born in Italy, Kayode is of Nigerian descent. [2]

Club career

Gozzano

The son of Yoruba parents, Kayode started his youth career at Juventus, where he remained for seven years until 2018. [3] [4] He played the 2020–21 season with Serie D club Gozzano, with which he scored two goals and two assists in 34 matches, and gained promotion to Serie C. [3] He cited his experience in Serie D as "a step backwards to make two forwards". [3]

Fiorentina

Kayode joined Fiorentina after his spell in Serie D in 2021 and was integrated into their youth sector. [3] With Fiorentina, he won one Coppa Italia Primavera and one Supercoppa Italiana Primavera. [4]

On 19 August 2023, Kayode made his Serie A debut for Fiorentina in a 4–1 away victory over Genoa. [5] By the end of the season, Kayode had become a regular in Fiorentina's first team with his performances reportedly attracting international attention from clubs around Europe, [6] [7] featuring heavily in Serie A and in the squad that reached the final of the UEFA Conference League. [8]

Brentford

On 24 January 2025, Brentford announced that they had signed Kayode on loan for the remainder of the 2024–25 season, with an option to make the deal permanent. [9] Brentford signed Kayode permanently in May 2025, in a deal lasting until 2030. [10]

International career

In July 2023, Kayode's 19th minute goal decided the final of the 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, which Italy won 1–0 to Portugal. [3]

On 17 October 2023 he made his debut with the Italy U21, in the qualifying match won 2–0 against Norway in Bolzano.

Style of play

Predominantly a right-back, at Fiorentina Kayode also played as a left-back or in a double pivot as a third centre-back. [11] He has been noted for his long throws, frequently creating chances from throw-ins. [12] [13] [14]

Career statistics

As of match played 16 February 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [a] League cup [b] EuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Gozzano 2020–21 Serie D 342————342
Fiorentina 2023–24 Serie A 26140—6 [c] 01 [d] 0371
2024–25 Serie A5000—7 [c] 0—120
Total311400013010491
Brentford (loan) 2024–25 Premier League 120————120
Brentford 2025–26 Premier League2602040——320
Brentford total38020400000440
Career total10336040130101273
  1. ↑ Includes Coppa Italia, FA Cup
  2. ↑ Includes EFL Cup
  3. 1 2 Appearances in UEFA (Europa) Conference League
  4. ↑ Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana

Honours

Fiorentina U19

Fiorentina

Italy U19

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "2025/26 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  2. ↑ "'He plays like a veteran' - Pundit hails 19yo Kayode after Serie A debut for Fiorentina". allnigeriasoccer.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chi è Kayode, il laterale che ha consegnato gli Europei all'Italia Under 19". Goal.com (in Italian). 19 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  4. 1 2 "La Juve, la Serie D e ora la Viola: chi è Kayode". sport.sky.it (in Italian). 17 July 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "Genoa vs. Fiorentina - 19 August 2023 - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  6. ↑ "Michael Kayode: Italy's Future Starter at Right Back?". Breaking The Lines. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  7. ↑ "Top Premier League club spy on Michael Kayode". Score Nigeria. 24 June 2024. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  8. 1 2 "History: Olympiacos 1-0 Fiorentina". UEFA . 29 May 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  9. ↑ "Brentford sign Michael Kayode from Fiorentina". brentfordfc.com. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  10. ↑ "Brentford transfer news: Bees make Michael Kayode deal permanent". BBC Sport. 28 May 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  11. ↑ "Michael Kayode: Italy's Future Starter at Right Back? - Breaking The Lines". Breaking The Lines - Curated Football Opinions. 4 April 2024. Archived from the original on 16 October 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  12. ↑ "Man City analysis: Why Michael Kayode should be Pep Guardiola's top right-back target this summer". Squawka. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  13. ↑ Dove, Ed (28 October 2025). "Brentford star Michael Kayode's long throws are becoming a real Premier League problem". ESPN.com. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  14. ↑ Dalling, Sam (26 October 2025). "Brentford vs Liverpool: Michael Kayode's not-so-secret weapon and Mohamed Salah's struggles". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  15. ↑ "Fiorentina U19 vs. Atalanta U19 - 4 May 2022 - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  16. ↑ "Fiorentina U19 vs. Torino U19 - 4 April 2024 - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  17. ↑ "Portugal 0-1 Italy: Kayode heads resilient Azzurrini to second Under-19 title". UEFA. 16 July 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
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